Downloading YouTube Videos Ethically: A Guide for Tech Fanatics

Effortlessly Download YouTube Videos on PC, iOS, Android, and Mac with ENBLE

Learn how to download YouTube videos on PC, iOS, Android, and Mac with ENBLE.

If you’re a YouTube fanatic like us, then you probably can’t resist the urge to know what the most viewed YouTube videos are and even how to download YouTube videos. But hold on! Before you dive headfirst into the world of video downloads, let’s consider some ethical concerns and the impact on content creators.

Downloading videos from YouTube may not seem like a big deal at first glance, but it raises some eyebrows both from an ethical and legal perspective. It’s no surprise that Google, the parent company of YouTube, clearly states in their Terms of Service that downloading videos is a violation. But beyond legal issues, it’s crucial to think about the content creators who rely on ad revenue to generate income.

Many people and companies share videos on YouTube to share their content, while others are in it to make money. Videographers, for example, earn a cut of ad revenue from their videos. Those annoying ads that play before and after the videos we watch, and the ones that pop up at the bottom, are what allow content creators to make a living. When you download videos for offline viewing, those videos lose the opportunity to earn advertising income.

So, if you want to avoid ethical issues and copyright violations, the rule of thumb is to download YouTube videos only for personal viewing. And luckily, you can achieve that easily within the YouTube application itself by subscribing to YouTube Premium. But, hey, let’s be honest – Google doesn’t seem too concerned about enforcing this rule strictly, especially for casual downloaders. Nevertheless, they occasionally play a cat-and-mouse game to try and hamper third-party apps that facilitate video downloads.

Now, let’s embark on a journey to discover how to download YouTube videos on different devices, from PC to iPhone, iPad, Android, and Mac. But before we dive into specific methods and tools, we want to emphasize an important point. At this time, we don’t recommend any third-party downloader websites since they tend to become plagued with issues like malware. Instead, we suggest using safer alternatives like desktop and mobile apps for downloading videos. However, exercise caution and use anti-malware software to ensure the safety of these apps.

How to Download YouTube Videos: YouTube Premium Downloads

Image: Phil Nickinson/Digital Trends / ENBLE

Let’s start with the most seamless and Google-approved way to download YouTube videos – YouTube Premium. For a monthly subscription fee of around $14 (or $8 if you’re a student), YouTube Premium offers a download feature within the app. This means you can directly download videos to your smartphone for offline viewing. There’s even a family plan that allows up to five members to enjoy YouTube Premium for only $23 per month.

But, hold on tight! There’s a catch. With YouTube Premium, you don’t actually get to keep those downloaded videos forever. They are only available within the YouTube app and linked to both your YouTube Premium subscription and the original content. So, if you cancel your subscription or if the original video is removed from YouTube, those downloaded videos will disappear.

Nevertheless, if your main reason for downloading YouTube videos is for offline viewing, then YouTube Premium is undoubtedly the fastest and safest way to go. If you’ve never tried it, you can take advantage of the one-month free trial to experience its benefits. However, we don’t recommend signing up through the iOS YouTube app due to Apple’s additional fees. It’s better to sign up directly through Google to avoid those inflated prices.

How to Download YouTube Videos on Your PC

Use Screen Record to Record YouTube Videos Locally

Since the release of iOS 11 in 2017, iPhone and iPad users have the handy feature of screen recording. This means you can record your screen, including anything playing on it, such as YouTube videos. The best part? It’s free and easy to use!

Here’s how:

1. Pull up the YouTube video you want to download.
2. Rotate your device to landscape orientation for a better recording experience.
3. Swipe up on the Control Center and select the Record button (a circle inside a circle).
4. When the video finishes playing, select the Record button again to stop recording.
5. Voila! The recorded video is now saved to your Camera Roll.

Use 4K Video Downloader+

Image: screenshot/Anita George / ENBLE

If you’re a PC user, another option to download YouTube videos is by using the 4K Video Downloader+ app. Simply visit their website and download the app according to your operating system. Whether you’re on Windows, macOS, or Ubuntu, 4K Video Downloader+ has got you covered.

Don’t be deceived by the “4K” in the name. This versatile and user-friendly app works perfectly regardless of your display resolution. It even supports 3D and 360-degree videos, as well as subtitles. With the free version, you can download videos at customizable qualities, including up to 4K and 8K resolution.

Here’s how to use 4K Video Downloader+:

1. Go to the YouTube video you want to download and copy its URL from the address bar.
2. Open the 4K Video Downloader+ app.
3. Select the Paste link button in the top-left corner to automatically paste the copied URL.
4. Wait for the app to process and download the video.
5. Once downloaded, the video will appear in the app. Hover over it and select the Show in folder file icon to open the file location.

Mobile Methods to Download YouTube Videos

Use a YouTube Video Download App like Offline

If you’re searching for a more permanent solution to download YouTube videos on your iPhone or iPad, third-party tools are your best bet. One app that stands out among the options is Offline. It’s a completely free app without any hidden costs, except for some light ads. But don’t worry, it supports more than just YouTube videos! You can use Offline to download content from other apps like Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, and SoundCloud. Plus, you can save and play the downloaded files within the app, export them to iCloud, or transfer them to your Mac using AirDrop.

However, there’s one catch with Offline. It saves videos in a maximum resolution of 640×480. While it’s sufficient for offline viewing on your iPhone, it may not deliver the best quality on bigger screens. But hey, it’s a small sacrifice to make for a free and reliable downloading option.

Download a YouTube Video on a PC or Mac and Transfer it to an iPhone or iPad

If you don’t mind an extra step, you can download YouTube videos on your PC or Mac using tools like 4K Video Downloader+ and then easily transfer them to your iPhone or iPad. Even though it’s not a direct download to your iPhone, this method is still effective and efficient.

Here’s how:

1. Follow the steps mentioned earlier to download the YouTube video using 4K Video Downloader+.
2. Now, you have multiple options to transfer the video to your iPhone or iPad. You can use AirDrop, save the file to a third-party cloud service like Google Drive, Dropbox, or iCloud, or connect your device to the computer using a Lightning cable for a good old-fashioned transfer.

And there you have it! You’re now equipped with the knowledge and tools to ethically download YouTube videos while respecting the hard work of content creators. Remember, personal viewing is the primary reason for downloading videos, and with the right approaches, you can enjoy your favorite YouTube content offline without any guilt.

We hope you found this guide helpful and entertaining. If you have any other tips or tricks for downloading YouTube videos, feel free to share them in the comments below. Happy downloading, tech fanatics!

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